As part of the Mumbai local body’s continuous effort to reclaim walkways by removing unlawful encroachments, officials intend to remodel the footpaths and peripheries of up to 30 roadways in the eastern suburbs to make them walkable. The 30 shortlisted roads span three administrative wards, including Ghatkopar, Bhandup, Kanjurmarg, Nahur, and Mulund, and pass through marketplaces, railroad stations, schools, and bus stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the first phase, city officials stated that all illegal encroachments on these roads were eliminated. In the second phase, the current footpath model will be changed to improve walkability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“In Mumbai’s suburbs, walkways are frequently made up of continuous culverts formed by covering drains that run beneath them. As a result, these footpaths are narrow and do not give appropriate walking space for citizens,” said Yogita Kolhe, Assistant Municipal Commissioner. Kolhe added that the BMC has worked with urban planners to develop an integrated pedestrian design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Under this new design, current footpaths will be enlarged to a minimum width of two meters, and the surface will be uniform. In addition, the junction areas and traffic islands surrounding stations and junctions will be enlarged and modified to ensure that inhabitants have enough walking space. The goal is to promote walkability as a last-mile connectivity medium by providing uninterrupted walking space from railroad stations or marketplaces to people’s houses or the nearest transportation point, such as bus stops,” Kolhe explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After removing illegal encroachments from the roads, civic officials discovered that transformers, fire hydrants, and licensed hawking stalls, such as Aarey milk stores, along these roads were also impeding pedestrian movement, prompting them to hire urban planners to create a plan to use the existing space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The primary objective is to remove any existing restrictions. The road concretization construction is now proceeding. The design will also include new pathways to connect the new highways. According to a city roads department official, the new plan will involve raising barricades to separate walkways from highways and implementing markings to deter unauthorized parking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The design has been finalized, but work will begin in October, once the monsoon rains have subsided. The initiative will begin with these 30 roads and then expand to include all other administrative divisions in Mumbai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n